Values discussion questions

Part of being a therapist involves using values discussion questions to understand clients' core values and what drives their behavior. 

This guide to values discussion questions provides therapists with prompts and example questions about values to help clients clarify what matters most to them. 

We’ve included a free downloadable values discussion questions PDF to save to your electronic health record (EHR) and use in your practice. 

What are ACT values?

From a therapeutic standpoint, we may use an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) framework to explore  questions about values with clients. 

ACT is a humanistic, cognitive behavioral therapy that uses mindfulness to accept difficult emotions and life challenges by creating greater psychological flexibility and committed values-based action. 

The goal of ACT is not to suppress life experiences but to reduce suffering and build meaningful lives. To do that, an individual needs to be clear about their values. 

Unlike goals, which reflect what you want to achieve or complete, values discussion questions identify a person’s fundamental beliefs and guiding principles. 

Values are a core part of our identity and shape how we behave, make decisions, and act in relationships. 

Additionally, values reflect the qualities we like to see and experience from others. 

Psychotherapist and ACT trainer Ross Harris explains that values fall into the following categories:

Work or educational values

Asking clients these questions about values helps them describe how they want to behave. 

For instance, a client might appreciate curiosity, caring, showing gratitude, and treating others kindly. 

Relational values

These qualities describe how you want to interact or value most in relationships. For example, you may value empathy, adventure, and curiosity, and want to see these qualities in people you date.

Play-related values 

These questions about values reflect how we want to experience recreation and play. For instance, you may favor activities that fulfill your desire to be creative, playful, and fun.

Health-related values

Values discussion questions relating to health include being mindful of what we put in our body, promoting self-care activities instead of overworking, and having self-compassion.

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Example questions about values

After providing clients with the list of values below, they can reflect using the values discussion questions in the attached worksheet.

Values list

• Accepting 

• Adventurous 

• Assertive 

• Authentic 

• Autonomy

• Caring

• Committed 

• Community

• Compassionate 

• Cooperative 

• Courageous 

• Creativity 

• Curious 

• Efficient 

• Empathy

• Engaged

• Fair

• Friendly

• Family

• Forgiving 

• Fun-loving/humorous 

• Generous

• Genuine

• Grateful

• Helpful

• Health

• Honest

• Kind

• Loving

• Loyalty

• Mindful

• Open

• Playful

• Reliable

• Respectful 

• Responsible 

• Social connectedness

• Self-caring

• Sincerity

• Supportive

• Trusting

• Trustworthy

Values discussion questions

1. From the list above, pick three to five values that best describe what’s important to you in the following four categories of your life and answer the following questions about values:

   • Work or educational values: What traits or qualities feel most important to you at work, school, or college?

   • Relationships: What qualities do you want to embody in your relationships?

   • Play: What brings you a sense of joy and happiness?

   • Health: How do you support your health and well-being?

2. What qualities or values do you most admire in others?

3. Reflecting on your identified qualities, now consider:

   • Specific ways you have embodied these values in your life and relationships

   • Ways you have felt misaligned with your values

4. How could you change your behavior to be more aligned with your values?

5. What three actions can you take to achieve more alignment with your values?

6. Now that you have clarified your values, how might this influence your decision-making? 

7. How did getting clear on your values impact your outlook on specific challenges you’ve faced or may face in the future?

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How to use the values discussion questions worksheet 

You can download and use the values discussion questions with clients in several ways.

For example, you can use them in session to prompt a values-based discussion.

Therapists can also use the questions about values PDF to empower clients to identify their qualities and values. 

You may ask clients to complete the values discussion questions worksheet between sessions and debrief them at their next therapy appointment. 

The client could also use the deep questions about values worksheet as a reminder of their values and qualities.

Sources

• Dindo, L., Van Liew, J. R., & Arch, J. J. (2017). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Transdiagnostic Behavioral Intervention for Mental Health and Medical Conditions. 

• Harris, R. (2021). Trauma-informed ACT: A practitioner's guide to working with mind, body, and emotion using acceptance and commitment therapy. Context Press.

• Harris, R. (2019). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy (2nd ed.). New Harbinger Publications.

• Harris, R. (2014). Complete worksheets. The Happiness Trap.

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